Lewis Hamilton has transformed from a supporting character into a central figure in the 2026 Formula 1 season in just two races. The seven-time champion driver achieved victory at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix and second place at the Monaco GP, propelling him from fourth to second place in the world championship. Despite leader Kimi Antonelli’s 41-point advantage, Hamilton’s recent performance is already causing concern among the Mercedes team.
Lewis Hamilton’s strength as a competitor was underlined by Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, who admitted his reluctance to face him in the title race. “I would prefer not to fight for a title with him (Hamilton), because I know what he is capable of. If he smells blood, he will attack”, declared Wolff. The Austrian highlighted his years of experience seeing Hamilton’s ability to recover: “I’ve seen this happen for many years: suddenly, the Lewis Hamilton ‘train’ starts moving and then it’s very difficult to stop him.” This perception of danger is especially relevant coming from Wolff, who knows Hamilton’s winning mentality like few others, having worked alongside him for more than a decade.
Wolff’s ability to assess Hamilton’s threat is unique in the Formula 1 paddock, as the Austrian boss was the seven-time champion’s mentor throughout his journey at Mercedes, between 2013 and 2024. After this successful partnership, the British driver transferred to Ferrari, freeing up the vacancy for the arrival of Kimi Antonelli.
To secure his position as runner-up, Hamilton overtook his former teammate, George Russell. The young English driver, who had only won the Australian Grand Prix at the start of the championship, found himself overshadowed by Kimi Antonelli’s remarkable rise during the season.
Russell’s situation deteriorated further with his absence from the podium in four consecutive races. Furthermore, he missed out on a virtually guaranteed victory at the Canadian Grand Prix due to a mechanical failure in his car’s engine. Currently, George Russell is in third place in the overall standings.
Lewis Hamilton’s triumph at the Barcelona Grand Prix marks a new chapter
Although Russell’s setbacks made it easier for Kimi Antonelli to take a significant lead, Wolff does not believe that the young Italian’s position is guaranteed with Hamilton on his heels. “We are at the beginning of the season and the difference is 41 points. An abandonment takes away 25 points and the dispute is completely open”, said the team leader. He reinforced the need for caution: “That’s why we can’t afford not to complete the races. We need to continue improving the performance of the car, the power unit; not make mistakes, be smart with the strategy and maintain total focus.”
Lewis Hamilton is enjoying a substantially more promising start to 2026 compared to the previous season, in which he did not even obtain a podium – an unprecedented feat in the 41-year-old veteran’s career. Assuming second place in Formula 1 for the first time in almost five years, the seven-time champion demonstrates greater adaptability to his new car, which operates under the category’s most recent technical regulations.
The British driver was successful in implementing changes that he considered essential to the Ferrari car and the entire team structure. He made adjustments from providing brakes to incorporating a new race engineer into his team.
Wolff analyzed Hamilton’s performance, indicating that success is the result of “hard work”. The Mercedes boss suggested that the current Ferrari car could be more “conventional” in handling, unlike the “previous generation” which presented challenges with stiffness and jumps. “Obviously the engine management is completely different, but you can see that he is driving firmly,” noted Wolff. He also commented on the good relationship between Hamilton and his race engineer and the driver’s evident contentment: “I saw him on the podium, on TV. I mean, that expression on his face shows that he is very happy.” Wolff even speculated about the impact on his personal life: “Maybe a girlfriend helps. It was something that personally helped me – having a partner, so you have a stable family life, and they seem to be getting along really well.” He concluded that victory is the sum of several factors: “I think it’s all these factors together: the emotional, personal and professional perspective. If all of this goes well, you win.”
With the Barcelona Grand Prix, the 2026 Formula 1 season has completed the first third of its 22 planned stages. The next phase of the championship, the eighth round, will be the Austrian Grand Prix, which will take place in two weeks, continuing the dispute.